Families of COSAS Four 'devastated' with latest delay in case
Their trial was meant to get underway in the High Court in Joburg on Monday but it’s now been postponed until May.
Picture: Pixabay
JOHANNESBURG - A spokesperson for the families of the COSAS Four has lamented the latest delay in the case, saying they’re “devastated”.
In February 1982, three COSAS supporters were killed and one was injured in a bomb blast at a pump house near Krugersdorp.
This, it later emerged, after the pump house had been rigged with explosives by Security Branch police.
More than 40 years later, two of the men believed responsible - Christiaan Rorich and Thlomedi Mfalapitsa - have finally been charged over the crime.
Their trial was meant to get underway in the High Court in Joburg on Monday but it’s now been postponed until May.
This is the latest in a string of delays.
The case previously ground to a halt as a result of issues around Christiaan Rorich’s legal representation.
The trial was then finally meant to get underway in August last year but was postponed to Monday for an application from the Southern African Litigation Centre to be admitted as a friend of the court.
And it’s now been postponed again, this time for Rorich to secure counsel to represent him.
Spokesperson for the families, Russell Baloyi, spoke to members of the media at court after Monday’s proceedings.
"Everybody is completely devastated. Obviously our level of scepticism and belief in our justice system is at another level. We’re completely demoralised."
The case returns to court on 14 May.